Portfolio of Compositions: Accompanied by a written commentary

This portfolio of compositions includes nine pieces, most of which relate to Macedonian folk music. Some compositions quote entire folk songs while others only excerpts; some employ variation and estrangement as compositional tools, without relation to specific folk songs. The harmonic language developed in the earlier pieces often relates to jazz, as I wanted to explore the value of applying established jazz voicing techniques outside their usual context. Towards the end of the research process, I tried to establish my own harmonic vocabulary, independent of jazz influence. As I turned my focus from harmony to melody, I chose heterophonic textures as a starting point for the transformation of the melodic and rhythmic material. My aim was to explore the potential of a single melodic line as the main generator of all development by expanding its contours and breaking its harmonic background.